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E. L. Konigsburg
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Silent to the Bone Paperback – April 1, 2002

by E.L. Konigsburg (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 198 ratings
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Speechless
Connor is sure his best friend, Branwell, couldn't have hurt Branwell's baby half sister, Nikki. But Nikki lies in a coma, and Branwell is in a juvenile behavioral center, suspected of a horrible crime and unable to utter the words to tell what really happened. Connor is the only one who might be able to break through Branwell's wall of silence. But how can he prove Branwell didn't commit the unspeakable act of which he's accused -- when Branwell can't speak for himself?
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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    10 - 14 years
  2. Print length
    261 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    5 - 9
  5. Lexile measure
    810L
  6. Dimensions
    5.13 x 0.7 x 7.63 inches
  7. Publisher
    Aladdin
  8. Publication date
    April 1, 2002
  9. ISBN-10
    0689836023
  10. ISBN-13
    978-0689836022
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"This middle-grade novel combines a plot loosely based on a real case with a taut psychological mystery. The author inlays the story with tantalizing facts and peoples it with her hallmark idiosyncratic characters and joins every element seamlessly," said PW's Best Books citation. Ages 10-14.

About the Author

E.L. Konigsburg is the only author to have won the Newbery Medal and a Newbery Honor in the same year. In 1968, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler won the Newbery Medal and Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth was named a Newbery Honor Book. Almost thirty years later she won the Newbery Medal once again for The View from Saturday. Among her other acclaimed books are Silent to the Bone, The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place, and The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Aladdin; Reprint edition (April 1, 2002)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 261 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0689836023
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0689836022
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 10 - 14 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 810L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 5 - 9
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.13 x 0.7 x 7.63 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 198 ratings

About the author

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E. L. Konigsburg

E. L. Konigsburg

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E. L. Konigsburg is the only author to have won the Newbery Medal and be runner-up in the same year. In 1968 From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler won the Newbery Medal and Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth was named Newbery Honor Book. Almost thirty years later she won the Newbery Medal once again for The View From Saturday. She has also written and illustrated three picture books: Samuel Todd's Book of Great Colors, Samuel Todd's Book of Great Inventions, and Amy Elizabeth Explores Bloomingdale's. In 2000 she wrote Silent to the Bone, which was named a New York Times Notable Book and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, among many other honors.

After completing her degree at Carnegie Mellon University, Ms. Konigsburg did graduate work in organic chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh. For several years she taught science at a private girls' school. When the third of her three children started kindergarten, she began to write. She now lives on the beach in North Florida.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
198 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Ivy
5.0 out of 5 stars A new kind of Konigsburg
Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2000
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E.L. Konigsburg's writing has been migrating in style and subject matter; her latest work. Silent to the Bone, is ample proof of that. It's also proof that she can write anything she wants to. It is an excellent and intense book that explores family, friendship, love, and lies with Konigsburg's accustomed skill and intelligence.
The main character and narrator is Connor. Branwell, Connor's best friend, has been accused of seriously injuring his baby sister Nikki, and has been unable to speak since she was hurt. Connor visits Branwell in the detention center, where he realizes that he must first learn to communicate with his friend and then learn what really happened to Nikki. Connor is a very intelligent kid, but still real and fully-fleshed. In fact, the main characters of this book - Connor, Branwell, the au pair, and Connor's sister - are all very well developed, as are the relationships between them.
Although the subject is rather grim, the book itself is not. The primary focus is actually Connor's detective work, the ways in which he goes about discovering what happened both in Branwell's house and in Branwell's head. The plot is gripping and believeable, and the truths - about Branwell's sister, but many others as well - unfold naturally, without calling attention to themselves. Although Konigsburg rarely makes blatent statements about emotions or complex relationships - people mostly don't, after all - she makes everything clear to the reader. The family relationships, for example, are for the most part background, but so perfectly drawn that they are easy to see and understand.
Although it's very different from her early works, like From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, Silent to the Bone is every bit as good. It's certainly better than The View from Saturday, which was a Newbery book. I would suggest that it is more of a YA book, for a slightly older audience than the age range suggests. A nine-year-old could read and enjoy this, but he'd have to be a fairly mature one.
SIAS: Average boy uses wits, compassion, and help from sister to uncover the truth, protect the helpless, and save the day. (Ands: 2, cliches: 3, ranking: ?)
(And a side note: *what* is with Konigsburg's obsession with the word epiphany?)
59 people found this helpful
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Martha J. Bidal
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for discussion with older kids
Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2001
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I read this book myself before reading it aloud to my 11 year-old son, primarily because Konigsburg tends to provide great material for in-depth discussion. This book is no exception. While the basis for the story is disturbing, it is also "current events". I found the family relationships thought provoking and real, and a great way to open up a "comparative" discussion about relationships in our own extended family. As the author allowed the characters to disclose the reasons for Branwell's silence, we were able to openly discuss subjects that might otherwise not be broached. I recommend this book as a read aloud for parents with kids just about to enter middle school, or who are already there. This book says a lot about how people judge others by what is not said, as much as by what is said.
5 people found this helpful
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Batman
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2014
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There was great suspense and mystery to this book while you (the reader) and the characters struggled finding out not only what was wrong with Branwell for not talking but with the oh so shady Vivian
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Lauren
4.0 out of 5 stars Silent to the Bone
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2010
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Friendship: the state of being a friend; association as friends. "Friendship," also, "depends on interlocking time, place, and state of mind," as the author had said. Though true for Branwell Zamborska and Connor Kane, the real definition cannot be put into words - literally. Silent to the Bone by, E.L. Konigsburg, tells the story of courage, faith, and above all friendship. Konigsburg did a fabulous job writing this novel, as it was easily relatable to a teenage life, like mine. With his best friend silently locked up in the behavioral center, for something he is positive Branwell didn't do, Connor's whole world is turned upside down. There is nothing he can do now but testing their friendship and getting the information Branwell needs to talk. Will Connor's effort pay off in helping break the silence that is Branwell Zamborska?

The main characters in Silent to the Bone are, Branwell, Connor, Margaret, and Vivian. Branwell, though now silenced, is the awkward but respected son of Mr. Zamborska, who ironically loves to talk. Connor is Branwell's devoted best friend, determined on breaching Branwell's silence. Margaret, Connor's half-sister, is also devoted to both helping break Branwell's silence and hoping Nikki, Branwell's injured baby half-sister, will come out of her coma. Vivian is the Zamborska's British au pair in charge of taking care of Nikki. How credible these characters are plays a big role in believability of the entire plot, and all of the characters in this novel are extremely lifelike. In both their personalities and behaviors, and could easily be real people in our everyday lives.

The setting of this present-day novel, Silent to the Bone, is primarily at Branwell's prison - the juvenile behavioral center. Every day he can, Connor goes and visits Branwell, communicating with him in their secret unique way. When Connor isn't visiting Branwell, he'll be at his half-sister Margaret's house. The behavioral center is believable, as teenagers are commonly blamed for things they didn't do. I've had my fair share of being blamed as well, easily connecting me and my life to the characters and theirs; a job well done on Konigsburg's part. This novel's setting is effective, as it shows how much Connor values their friendship and also that he is willing to help him break his silence.

The plot of this book consists of Connor's struggle to get Branwell to talk. "Male Voice: ...what happened? British Accent: He dropped her. She won't wake up," after his accusation from the 9-1-1 phone call, Branwell's silence began. Since his silence insisted upon his guilt, he was sentenced to stay at the behavioral center, until Nikki was to get better, if she ever did. Truly valuing their friendship and believing in Branwell, Connor visited him every day, communicating by blinks. When their secret messages turned up results, it was up to Connor to find the pieces to put together to know what really happened on that Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Konigsburg did a superb job adding twists and suspense to the plot; my attention was always held, and my mind always reading between the lines, connecting me to the characters. Brace yourself for the surprise ending - I was shocked.

The friendship and devotion in this book made it insanely hard to put down. From reading this book I learned the value of friendship and how hard work pays off in the long run. I love the way E.L. Konigsburg inserts humor and suspense into such a generic theme, making it a more exciting read. I would definitely read other books by her. This novel is relatively easy to follow along making it a good read for younger readers, although the lessons learned can apply to anyone. This book is now among my favorites, and I'd gladly recommend it to anyone in need of a good book. The bond between Branwell and Connor is strong; will Branwell ever speak their individual meaning of "the state of being a friend"?
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Philippe Laurent
5.0 out of 5 stars BEST SUMMER READING EVER
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2013
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Overall a really good book. Although I had no choice but to to read it do to summer reading I really wasn't a punishment. This will have you guessing what will happen next causing to not want to release the the book from your hands. Author did perfect and to reading more books. Highly recommended by me.
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Andrew
3.0 out of 5 stars A lot of set up for nothing.
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2013
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The story is pretty easy to get through. For something that seems so mysterious and important, the story was obvious. Decent for use on character building though. You learn a lot about the characters through the eyes of the narrator.
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Marlena McLean
5.0 out of 5 stars Another great preteen book!
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2020
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My pre teen is turning into an avid reader...she loved this book!
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Top reviews from other countries

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J.
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 17, 2009
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This was a pure pleasure to read. I love all of the other books I have read by E L Konigsburg and this is no exception. Her style of writing is like being hugged by an old friend - I can thoroughly recommend it!
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モコ
4.0 out of 5 stars ガラスの少年
Reviewed in Japan on September 15, 2004
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ブランウェル少年は、赤ん坊の時に自動車事故で母を失って以来全身全霊を込めて彼を育ててくれた父と愛情深い家庭を築いてきた。そんな彼が１３歳になる頃、父が若い同僚の女性と再婚することになり父子二人だけの家庭に新しく母が加わり、やがて異母妹ニッキーが生まれる。
これまでと変わらず良い息子であり続けようと努力するブランウェル。特に妹には深い愛情を注ぐようになる。ここに妹ニッキーの世話をする為、au pair（外国人が住み込みでベビーシッターをしながら勉強をする制度でアメリカの共働きの家庭ではかなり広く普及している）としてイギリス人のビビアンが一緒に暮らすことになることから、思春期を迎えたブランウェルにとっては心穏やかではいられない日々が始まり、そしてまもなく彼の人生を変えるような大事件がおこる。ある日最愛の妹ニッキーが床に転落し、意識不明の事態に陥る。あまりのショックにブランウェルが完全に言葉を失ってしまうことから、彼は犯人扱いされ・・この物語の語り部でもあるブランウェルの無二の親友コナーが勇躍し、徐々に彼の沈黙を解きほぐして行く過程の描写が見事。少年達の繊細な感情に心打たれる。
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